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Ex-SA top cop to head Tas bushfire probe

An inquiry into Tasmania's devastating January bushfires will be headed by former South Australian police commissioner Malcolm Hyde.

The worst fires in the state in half a century resulted in the destruction of around 400 structures but no loss of life.

The dates for submissions to begin being accepted is yet to be confirmed but the inquiry will report back by the end of September.

Tasmanian premier Lara Giddings said the decorated Mr Hyde, who recently retired after 15 years in the SA commissioner's job, was a respected figure among the emergency services.

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"There was a lot to be proud of in response to the bushfires, but there will always be things we can do better," Ms Giddings said in a statement.

"We must learn from these events to ensure we are better prepared in future because climate change will result in more extreme weather more often."

Ms Giddings said the inquiry would look at the controversial issue of fuel reduction burns after cuts to the program were blamed by some for the fires that raged in catastrophic conditions on Hobart's hottest ever day.

An allocation of $670,000 has been made to fund the inquiry.

It comes as the state government estimates the cost of the fires at $45 million.

The figure includes $14 million for emergency services' responses, another $14 million for infrastructure and clean-up costs and $10 million for electricity company Aurora.

A figure of $22 million for the fires has been included in a $62.9 million supplementary appropriation bill tabled in state parliament.

Ms Giddings, who is also treasurer, said unforeseen circumstances and the government's jobs strategy accounted for much of the remainder.

She said spending growth had been reined in to 1.8 per cent compared with 8.8 per cent in the six years up to 2010-11.

But the Liberal opposition said the state was now on track for a record budget deficit of $400 million.

"While obviously the recent bushfires will have an impact on the budget, the vast majority of the overspending announced today has nothing to do with bushfires and everything to do with a Labor-Green Government that simply can't stick to a budget," shadow treasurer Peter Gutwein said.